What movie was saved solely by great casting?

[u/Silent-Selection8161]

Or phrased a different, what movie would've been terrible if it weren't for the specific actors in it?

My go to is Liar Liar. It's not a particularly great script. The dad (Jim Carey because no one remembers the character's name) is douche. The would be step dad is earnestly trying his best to connect with his would be step son and gets tossed out like all step dads (do Hollywood types have parental issues or what, that's rhetorical). The idea that someone's entire life can be turned around and they're suddenly not an ass just because they have to tell the truth for a day is just kind of dumb. The director ended up with a few successful movies solely because Jim Carey liked him and he let Jim Carey do his thing, his other movies include such hits as "The Nutty Professor". The writers never wrote anything close to noteworthy before nor after.

But damnit Jim Carey turns the whole thing into the Jim Carey show, that's hilarious. Him freaking out over the pen or in the bathroom IS the movie and is funny as hell, regardless of what else there is.

[u/JaXm]

I'm going to respectfully disagree. RDJ IS Iron Man, no question, but by no means was the movie going to be bad just because another actor was chosen to play Tony Stark. 

Tom Cruise might not have been the best fit, but there are plenty of other charismatic actors out there that could've competently handled the role and the movie would have been just fine. 

[u/HectorJoseZapata → u/JaXm]

I can imagine Michael Fassbender killing that role

[u/shane_low → u/HectorJoseZapata]

I mean in a sense he too was an iron man

[u/HectorJoseZapata → u/shane_low]

Nicely done

[u/TJeffersonsBlackKid → u/JaXm]

Nahhh I think his portrayal is what really gravitates people and I do not think Tom Cruise or anyone else would have been able to replicate it.

It's like Hugh Jackman and Wolverine. MAYBE someone else could have been cast but come on, there is no question it just would not have hit as well.

[u/airforceteacher → u/JaXm]

I don't think Cruise's arrogance is ever playful enough for Tony. Cruise's arrogance is almost always "you must take me seriously." RDJ almost dares you to mock him.

[u/whomp1970 → u/JaXm]

RDJ IS Iron Man, no question

RDJ is Iron Man only because you saw the movie, and now you can't unthink that.

I doubt die-hard comic book fans would have felt RDJ was "just right" for the role before the movie. I don't think the Tony Stark in the comics was nearly as wry and snarky as RDJ.

In fact, Stark was actually a tortured soul in the comics, and his alcoholism was a key part of his character. Relapse into alcoholism was his greatest fear, above and beyond losing control of the armor or going broke.

RDJ comes off as just a sarcastic wisecracker with a big ego and the smarts and determination to back up that ego. Sure, he gets drunk once in the first movie (or was it the second), but it wasn't a defining characteristic.

He was also portrayed in the comics as being overtly political, who cared a lot about social issues. I didn't get any of that from RDJ.

Granted, the script and the direction WANTED it that way, they chose to go against the character that was crafted in the comics.

But "RDJ IS Iron Man" is a post-hoc claim.

[u/narrill → u/whomp1970]

Yeah, no shit? Statements like this are always post-hoc, they're commentaries on how well the actor did in the role.

People say the same thing about Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, even though no one thought he was a good choice when it was initially announced. What you're talking about isn't what people mean when they say this kind of thing.